This week we publish the fourth Best Practice:

4. “Wear textile life-lines for work on galleries”

Regional office: Galicia - Castilla Leon. / Project site: Castrovido Dam

This measure entails two different solutions that need to be considered: one is applicable to fully horizontal galleries, while the other is applicable to sloping galleries.

In either case, the most important matter is to ensure the safety of the fitter during work to install the anchor line. To do so, the most suitable scaffolding and platforms for the case in hand must be used. Whenever possible, a modular scaffold should be erected, which also serves as a means of access and passage to the gallery for subsequent work, supplemented possibly by hand ladders.

The system must be erected prior to the installation of the formwork on the block, in order to afford as much room and accessibility as possible to avoid risks of tripping, falls, etc. The poles are fitted in front of the vault formwork, on the ground, and then hoisted by crane for their final arrangement on the block. The anchor plates are fitted on the block, free of obstacles, by means of scaffolding or ladders. If a hand ladder is used, it must first be firmly anchored so that the operator can hook on and work from the ladder to make the drill holes.

Two properly trained operators for the tasks in hand must always participate and be on hand throughout the entire process.

Once the anchors and formwork are fitted, the textile line is installed. An operator at each end hooks his safety harness to the plate or pole anchor with a suitable spring-clip depending on each case, fits the textile line and tightens it as much as possible using the ratchet.